Tag Archives: Lamb

Entering In

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Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is an entering into Christianity much as there are “entering ins” in the world around us.  We enter into kindergarten and experience a whole new world of knowledge and honing of abilities.  In Christianity, I guess, we could liken this to the favored verbal acceptance of Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

There is an entering in that happens when we move into the school system between grades 1 and 12.  Every year we are expected to grow in knowledge and ability.  And in Christianity, again I guess, this would equate with the body of knowledge taught in what is called the Church today.  These are basic truths that can be found in writing.  In school we call them text books.  In the Church we refer to the Bible, hymns, and other literature that surround the Christian with appropriate knowledge.   Each of these have their supported values in season.  But I propose that there are two more enter ins that should happen to every Christian.

After grade 12 some go on to college.  Others move directly into the work force.  But regardless their choice, they are not faced with a rather loud slap in the face.  “No more learning the basics.  Now you learn how to apply what you learned before.”

One of the entering ins that are obvious is that of entering into the peace of God after the judgment.  We know that will be an eternal entering.  And those whose names were found in the Lamb’s book of life will never again exit His presence.  The other “entering in” is rarely considered in the Church today.  It has to do with a certain undeniable confidence we gain before the Lord.  It is the place where faith and hope turn into a kind of knowing.  We are no longer tossed about like styrofoam on a wildly tossed sea.  We become settled in the matters of forgiveness, holiness, obedience, and love.

I urge you to look into this for yourself.  I know it is real.  And there are times when I experience this for myself.  But it comes and goes according to our understanding of His love toward us.  We are no longer called servants then, but we are refered to as brothers.  For a servant does not know his master’s business.  But a brother is part of the family and is heir to what is yet to be unveiled by the Father.

There is another reason to seek out the truth in this matter:  “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”  (1 John 2:28)  Have you given much thought of what you will do when you see Him face to face?  Remember what the prophet Isaiah said?  Such a sturdy servant of the Lord, and yet he could not stand.  “”Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”  (Isaiah 6:5)

Let’s get sober here!  Don’t listen to those who paint the Lord Jesus as a big cuddly teddy bear.

WWJD

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A "What Would Jesus Do?" (WWJD) bracelet

Image via Wikipedia

In the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew, we read about one who was attending but was not wearing wedding clothes.  The Lord asked him, “Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?”  The man had nothing to say in response.  To my initial amazement the Lord gives orders to bind that man hand and foot and to throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the Lord says, “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

 

I have often written of the urgency in the Gospel to follow after the Lord with our hearts, minds, and “soul ears” open to His leading.  Again, we interpret this passage with the same value of urgency.  Who is he who was not dressed in wedding clothes?  It is he who was not spoken of in the following passage: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.”  (Rev. 7: 14)

 

What does this mean?  When the Lord came to me as I drove across Elk Mountain, he explained this passage without referring to it.  He said to me, “I will take you to be with me, if you will but listen to me.”  It is in the listening and obeying every moment that we wash our robes in the Blood of the Lamb.

 

Which man knows what is appropriate, timely, and Righteous, except that the Lord tells us these things from His perspective in Heaven.  I will say this and know that few will receive it with an open and honest heart:  No man knows what is absolutely right to do or say at any one moment.  But in the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit, we fill our moments here with His perfect will.  Those who live according to plain religion, hoping that they are doing what is right, are not washing their robe in the Blood of the Lamb.   They stand a good chance of being like that man at the wedding feast.  They too will have no answer to the Lord when asked.  They will not understand why their clothing is not gleaming like the others.  They will be without an answer.

 

Hear these words and consider your life.  If you’re not sure about where you stand with the Lord, sell your entire life to gain that sureness!   What would you give if you are that man who is asked how you got in there?  And what would you desire you had done when they are taking you away from the Great Wedding Banquet of the Most High God and His people?

 

The  Lord is not looking for people who will attend the religious service, dressed, and participating appropriately.  He has no interest in socially acceptable religion.  He is looking for those who are intent in listening to Him.  For eternity, it is those kind of people the Lord is seeking.  Sin will be done away with.  And only those who commit their entire heart, mind, body, and soul to following Him are going to be “worthy”.  Strive with all you have to enter!  The way is narrow, which leads to eternal life.  Only Jesus can teach you what step should be taken next.  Pride, ignorance, folly, rebellion, and the like belong to the broad way.  The broad way, which leads to destruction.  What more can be said?  The choice is always ours.  His offer remains before us all until the moment when we leave this tent of flesh.

 

You have heard of the saying, “What would Jesus do.”  This saying supposes that we can either guess or discern what the Lord might do in any given case.  I have learned the folly of that saying.  We are not called to guess.  We are called to obey.  And how can we hope to obey unless the Lord Himself is teaching us moment by moment.  He is speaking to us right now.  Are we listening?  We sharpen our ears as we do what He says.